Remote monitoring of fluid containers

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for remote inspection of oxygen containers includes an electronic circuit in communication between each container (or at various locations along a pipeline) and a remote central station. The electronic circuit is adapted to issue a signal to the remote central station that includes information about predetermined internal and/or external conditions such as the level of oxygen stored in the tank, a pressure condition of material stored in the tank, a lack of presence of the tank in an installed position, or the presence of an obstruction restricting access to the tank.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of copending U.S. application Ser.No. 11/622,343, filed Jan. 11, 2007, the entirety of which isincorporated by reference herein. U.S. application Ser. No. 11/622,343claims the benefit of U.S. Application No. 60/449,234, filed Feb. 20,2003, now expired. U.S. application Ser. No. 11/622,343 is acontinuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/782,288, filed Feb. 19,2004 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,174,769), which a continuation-in-part of U.S.application Ser. No. 10/274,606, filed Oct. 21, 2003 (now U.S. Pat. No.7,188,679), which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No.09/832,531, filed Apr. 11, 2001 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,585,055), which isa continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/212,121, filedDec. 15, 1998 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,302,218), which is a continuation ofU.S. application Ser. No. 08/879,445, filed June 20, 1997 (now U.S. Pat.No. 5,848,651), which is a continuation-in-part of internationalapplication PCT/US97/01025, filed Jan. 23, 1997, which is acontinuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/590,411, filed Jan.23, 1996 (now U.S. Pat. No. 5,775,430).

This application is also a continuation of copending U.S. applicationSer. No. 11/856,618, filed Sep. 17, 2007, the entirety of which isincorporated by reference herein. U.S. application Ser. No. 11/856,618is: a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/863,668, filed Jun.8, 2004 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,271,704); a continuation-in-part of U.S.application Ser. No. 10/782,288, filed Feb. 19, 2004 (now U.S. Pat. No.7,174,769); a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No.10/614,948, filed Jun. 8, 2003; a continuation-in-part of U.S.application Ser. No. 10/274,606, filed Oct. 21, 2003 (now U.S. Pat. No.7,188,679); a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No.09/832,531, filed Apr. 11, 2001 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,585,055); acontinuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/212,121, filed Dec.15, 1998 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,302,218); a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 08/879,445, filed Jun. 20, 1997 (now U.S. Pat. No.5,848,651); a continuation-in-part of international applicationPCT/US97/01025, filed Jan. 23, 1997; and a continuation-in-part of U.S.application Ser. No. 08/590,411, filed Jan. 23, 1996 (now U.S. Pat. No.5,775,430).

The entirety of each and every one of the foregoing patents and/orpatent applications is incorporated by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to monitoring contents of fluid containers suchas portable tanks and pipelines, and, more particularly, to monitoringvolume, fluid level, and/or other information associated with contentsof fluid containers stored under pressure for e.g., healthcare,industrial, or commercial purposes.

BACKGROUND

Fluid containers such as portable oxygen tanks are often used inhospitals, nursing homes, and other healthcare facilities for use inmedical procedures and patient recovery. Gauges are typically attachedto the oxygen tanks to permit healthcare personnel to monitor tankcontents including for malfunctions and contents depletion. Portabletanks are also used in industrial and commercial facilities, e.g., forstorage of volatile and non-volatile fluids such as propane gas,nitrogen gas, hydraulic fluid, etc. under pressure for use in industrialmanufacturing, processing, and fabrication. Similarly, portable tanksare used in commercial and domestic locations, including for cooking andother food preparation procedures using pressured gases that are alsomonitored by gauges.

Typically, gauges mounted to portable tanks, or similar fluid supplysystems, provide an indication of the portable tank contents. Forexample, internal pressure of a portable tank may be measured by a gaugein communication with the portable tank volume. By measurement anddisplay of internal pressure, it can be determined when internalpressure falls below a predetermined level necessary for proper use ofthe tank. Additionally, by providing an indication of internal pressure(e.g., pounds per square inch) of the portable tank or system, themeasured pressure can be checked routinely to avert potentialemergencies such as a pressure increase exceeding a safe containmentrating of the associated portable tank.

By measuring and displaying internal pressure, gauges facilitateinspection of portable tanks, such as portable fire extinguisher tanksTypically, such inspections are performed manually, and inspection offire extinguishers located throughout a facility, e.g., such as amanufacturing plant or an office complex, or throughout an institution,e.g., such as a school campus or a hospital, may occupy one or moreemployees on a full time basis. Procedures for more frequent inspectionsare generally considered cost prohibitive, even where it is recognizedthat a problem of numbers of missing or non-functioning fireextinguishers may not be addressed for days or even weeks at a time,even where manpower may otherwise be available.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, the invention features apparatus for remote inspection ofa portable tank located in an installed position and adapted to storeoxygen that includes a first detector (e.g., a float gauge) incommunication with the oxygen for measurement of a level of oxygenstored in the portable tank and a second detector (e.g., an electronictether) configured to detect lack of presence of the portable tank fromits installed position. The apparatus also includes an electroniccircuit in communication between the first and second detectors and acentral station located remotely from the tank. The electronic circuitis configured to issue a signal (e.g., a wireless signal) to the centralstation that includes information about the level of oxygen materialstored in the portable tank or presence of the portable tank in itsinstalled position.

In one particular implementation, the electronic circuit is configuredto issue a signal to the central station upon detection of a lack ofpresence of the portable tank from its installed position. Theelectronic circuit may also be configured to continuously orperiodically issue a signal to the display device that includesinformation about the level of oxygen. Alternatively, the electroniccircuit may be configured to issue a signal to the display device upondetection of an oxygen level at or below a predetermined threshold.

In another implementation, the apparatus also includes a third detectorconfigured to detect presence of an obstruction restricting access tothe tank and the electronic circuit is configured to issue a signal thatincludes information about the presence of an obstruction restrictingaccess to the tank.

In another aspect, the invention features a system for remote inspectionof a portable tank configured to store oxygen under pressure andreleased from the tank in gaseous form. The system includes a detectorin communication with the oxygen for measurement of the level of oxygenstored in the tanks, a display device located remotely from thedetector, and an electronic circuit in communication between thedetector and the display device. The electronic circuit is configured toissue a wireless signal that includes information about the level ofoxygen, and the portable display device is configured to receive thewireless signal and display information about the level of oxygen.

Various implementations may include one or more of the followingfeatures. The electronic circuit may be configured to continuously orperiodically issue the wireless signal to the display device, or,alternatively, may be configured to issue the wireless signal to thedisplay device upon detection of an oxygen level at or below apredetermined threshold.

The display device may be a portable device such as a personal dataassistant, cell phone, laptop computer, etc. or a non-portable devicesuch as a desktop computer.

The detector may comprise a float member that extends into the tank andfloats in the oxygen, a float magnet joined to an upper portion of thefloat member, an elongated shaft positioned at an upper end of the tanksuch that the upper portion of the float member is telescopicallyengaged with the elongated shaft, a fluid impermeable, non-magnetic walldisposed between the upper portion of the float member and the elongatedshaft, and an oxygen level indication magnet positioned to couple withthe float magnet across the fluid impermeable wall for axial positioningof the shaft in response to axial positioning of the float member suchthat the axial position of the shaft indicates the tank oxygen level.The detector may also include a transducer configured to generate anelectrical signal that contains information about the position of theoxygen level indication magnet.

In one particular implementation, the system also includes a secondelectronic circuit configured to issue a signal including informationabout the level of fuel to a communications device associated with arefueling company. The second electronic circuit may be configured toissue the signal to the communications device associated with arefueling company upon detection of a fuel level at or below apredetermined threshold. The second electronic circuit may also beconfigured to receive input indicating a user's desire for additionalfuel, and issues a signal to a communications device associated with arefueling company in response to receiving input indicating a user'sdesire for additional fuel. The second electronic circuit may beconfigured to retrieve pricing information via, e.g., the Internet ortelephone, from one or more refueling companies.

In another aspect, the invention features a system for remote inspectionof a tank configured to store heating oil that includes a detector incommunication with the heating oil for measure of the oxygen level ofthe heating oil stored in the tank, a display device located remotelyfrom the detector, and an electronic circuit in communicationtherebetween. The electronic circuit is configured for issue of a signal(e.g. wireless signal) that includes information about the level offuel, and the display device is configured to receive the signal anddisplay information about the level of fuel.

Various implementations may include one or more of the followingfeatures. The electronic circuit may be configured to continuously orperiodically issue the wireless signal to the display device, or,alternatively, may be configured to issue the wireless signal to thedisplay device upon detection of an oil level at or below apredetermined threshold.

The display device may be a portable device such as a personal dataassistant, cell phone, laptop computer, etc. or a non-portable devicesuch as a desktop computer. The detector may include a float gauge and atransducer configured to generate an electrical signal that containsinformation about the position of the float gauge.

In another aspect, the invention features an apparatus for remoteinspection of containers containing pressurized oxygen. A detector, suchas a pressure gauge, is in communication with the oxygen for measure ofan internal condition, e.g., pressure, of the container. Electroniccircuitry is in communication between the detector and a remote centralstation and issues a signal containing information about the internalcondition to the central station.

In one implementation, an apparatus for remote inspection of portableoxygen tanks e.g., distributed throughout a hospital, nursing home, orother healthcare facility. A gauge mounted to each oxygen tank detectsand displays a measure of the oxygen pressure contained within thevolume of the oxygen tank. The oxygen tank gauge includes electroniccircuitry that is in communication between the oxygen tank and a remotecentral station via a docking station that also contains electroniccircuitry. The docking station electronic circuitry issues a hardwire orwireless signal to the central station upon detection of an conditionassociated with the oxygen tanks such as an out-of-range pressurecondition, lack of presence of an oxygen tank in its installed position,or presence of an obstruction to access to the oxygen tank.

The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth inthe accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features,objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thedescription and drawings, and from the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic view of an apparatus for remoteinspection of portable pressurized tanks distributed at a system ofstations, in this embodiment, fire extinguishers are distributed at asystem of fire extinguisher stations.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a fire extinguisher mounted at a fireextinguisher station for remote inspection.

FIG. 3 is a somewhat diagrammatic view of an apparatus of the inventionfor remote inspection of oxygen tanks at a healthcare facility.

FIG. 4 is a somewhat diagrammatic view of an apparatus for remoteinspection of industrial tanks at an industrial tank storage facility.

FIG. 5 is a somewhat diagrammatic view of an apparatus for remoteinspection of commercial gas tanks at a commercial facility.

FIG. 6 is a somewhat diagrammatic view of an apparatus for remoteinspection of a pipeline in a manufacturing facility.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, in one embodiment, an apparatus 10 for remoteinspection of portable tanks inspects portable fire extinguishers 12installed at one or a system 14 of fire extinguisher stations 16includes means 18 for detecting lack of presence of a fire extinguisher12 in its installed position at a fire extinguisher station 16, means 20for detecting out-of-range pressure of the contents of a fireextinguisher 12 at a fire extinguisher station 16, means 22 fordetecting an obstruction to viewing of or access to a fire extinguisherstation 16, and means 24 for transmitting inspection report informationfor each of the fire extinguisher stations 16 to a remote centralstation 26. The apparatus 10 may further include means 28 formaintaining a record of inspection report information.

As an example of a remote inspection apparatus 10, in FIG. 2, a portablefire extinguisher 12 is shown mounted to a wall, post, or other supportsurface, W, at a fire extinguisher station 16 in a system of fireextinguisher stations 14, as described in U.S. patent application Ser.No. 10/274,606, filed Oct. 21, 2002, now pending, which is acontinuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/832,531, filed Apr.11, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,585,055, which is a continuation-in-partof U.S. application Ser. No. 09/212,121, filed Dec. 15, 1998, now U.S.Pat. No. 6,302,218, issued Oct. 16, 2001, which is a continuation ofU.S. application Ser. No. 08/879,445, filed Jun. 20, 1997, now U.S. Pat.No. 5,848,651, issued Dec. 15, 1998, which is a continuation-in-part ofU.S. application Ser. No. 08/590,411, filed Jan. 23, 1996, now U.S. Pat.No. 5,775,430, issued Jul. 7, 1998, and a continuation-in-part ofInternational Application No. PCT/US97/01025, with an InternationalFiling Date of Jan. 23, 1997, now abandoned, the complete disclosures ofall of which are incorporated herein by reference. Additionally,portions of the apparatus 10 are described in U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 08/638,343, filed Apr. 26, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,834,651,issued Nov. 10, 1998, which is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No.08/403,672, filed Mar. 14, 1995, now abandoned, the complete disclosuresof all of which are incorporated herein by reference. Additionally,portions of the apparatus 10 are described in U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/024,431, filed Dec. 18, 2001, now pending, which claimspriority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/256,372, filed Dec. 18,2000, now expired, the complete disclosures of all of which areincorporated herein by reference. Additionally, portions of theapparatus 10 are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/988,852, filed Nov. 19, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,488,099, issuedDec. 3, 2002, which is a divisional of the U.S. application Ser. No.09/832,531, filed Apr. 11, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,585,055, issuedJul. 1, 2003, the complete disclosures of all of which are incorporatedherein by reference. Additionally, portions of the apparatus 10 aredescribed in International Application No. PCT/US02/11401, with anInternational Filing Date of Apr. 4, 2002, now pending, which claimspriority of the U.S. application Ser. No. 09/832,531, filed Apr. 11,2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,585,055, the complete disclosures of all ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference. Additionally, portions ofthe apparatus 10 are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/742,733, filed Dec. 20, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,311,779, issuedNov. 6, 2001, the complete disclosure of which is incorporated herein byreference.

As shown in FIG. 2, the portable fire extinguisher 12 typically includesa fire extinguisher tank 34 containing a fire extinguishing material,e.g., water, dry chemical or gas, and a fire extinguisher valve assembly36 (e.g. as available from MIJA Industries Inc., of Rockland, Mass.)mounted to releasably secure an opening in the tank. The valve assembly36 further includes a gauge 50 (e.g., a Bourdon coiled tubing gauge ofthe type also available from MIJA Industries Inc.) to provide indicationof the pressure status of fire extinguishing material within the fireextinguisher tank 34. A Hall effect sensor is included in the gauge 50and is adapted to provide a signal as the extinguisher tank 34 contentsapproach a low pressure limit or a high pressure limit, as described inU.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/274,606, filed Oct. 21, 2002.

In this implementation, the fire extinguisher 12 at each fireextinguisher station 16 is releasably connected to a docking station 30by an electronics and communications tether 32 that transfers signalsbetween the fire extinguisher 12 and the docking station 30 along withinitiating a signal sent by the docketing station to the remote centralstation 26 (shown in FIG. 1) based on movement of the extinguisher asalso described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/274,606, filedOct. 21, 2002. Signals initiated from the gauge 50 and through thetether 32, to the docking station 30 and remote central station 26(shown in FIG. 1), provide an indication of out-of-range (low or high)pressure in the tank 34.

The length of the tether 32, and the tenacity of engagement of thetether between the docking station 30 and the fire extinguisher 12 ispreferably selected so that any significant movement of the fireextinguisher 12 relative to its installed position, i.e., the positionin which it is placed at installation by a fire extinguisherprofessional, whether removal, or, in a preferred implementation, merelyupon rotation with movement in excess of a predetermined thresholdvalue, will result the tether releasing from the fire extinguisher 12,breaks communication between the gauge 50 and the docking station 30,and initiating a signal to the remote central station 26 (shown in FIG.1).

In the implementation shown in FIG. 2, the docking station 30 is fixedlymounted to the wall, W, at a predetermined position. The docking station30 consists of a housing 88 containing a sonar module (not shown) anddefining spaced apertures or windows 92 through which the module emitsand receives ultrasonic signals. Also, disposed within the dockingstation housing 88 is an electronic and communications circuit (notshown) that transmits and receives signals to and from the connectedfire extinguisher 12 and the remote central station 26 (shown in FIG.1), as described more fully in U.S. application Ser. No. 10/274,606,filed Oct. 21, 2002.

Referring to FIG. 1, the circuitry contained in docking station housing88 (shown in FIG. 2) issues a signal 100 or a signal 102 upon detectionof a predetermined external condition, e.g., lack of presence of thefire extinguisher 12 at its installed position at the fire extinguisherstation 16, when the fire extinguisher 12 is removed from, or movedwithin the respective station, thereby disengaging the tether 32 (shownin FIG. 2) from its connection to the respective fire extinguisher 12,and disrupting the closed connection (signal 100), or an obstruction toviewing of or access to a fire extinguisher station 16 (signal 102). Thedocking station housing 88 circuitry also issues a signal 104 upondetection of a predetermined internal condition, e.g., existence of anout-of-range, e.g., low, pressure condition of the fire extinguishingmaterial contained within the fire extinguisher tank 34 (shown in FIG.2).

According to one implementation, the signals 100, 104 are communicatedbetween the fire extinguisher 12 and the electronics and communicationscircuitry within docking station 30 though the connected tether 32. Thesignal 100 indicating lack of presence of the fire extinguisher 12 inits installed position at the fire extinguisher station 16 and signal104 indicating that pressure of the fire extinguishing material in thefire extinguisher tank 34 is below the predetermined minimum pressurelevel, e.g., indicative of a discharge, leak or other malfunction (or,in an implementation with a pair of Hall Effect sensors above apredetermined maximum pressure level) are received by circuitry withinthe docking station 30 and transmitted via hardwire connection 118 tothe remote central station 26. However, it is contemplated that, inother implementations, signals 100, 102, 104 may be communicated, e.g.,via RF (or other) wireless communication circuitry via antennae 120(FIG. 1) to an RF monitoring system receiver, e.g., at the remotecentral station 26, or simultaneously, via both hardwire and wireless,to a remote central station 26, or other monitoring station. Also, insome implementations wireless communication circuitry and antenna 120(FIG. 1) are located within the housing 88 to communicate by wirelesssignal between the fire extinguisher 12 and the previously mentioned RFmonitoring system receiver, e.g., at the remote central station 26.Signals 100, 102 are communicated by wireless signal between the remotecentral station 26 (FIG. 1) and the fire extinguisher station 16 upondetecting the previously mentioned predetermined external conditions.Signals, such as signal 104, are also communicated by wireless signalupon detection of the previously mentioned predetermined internalconditions. In this manner, a system of fire extinguishers, distributedover a considerable area, are maintained in wireless communication withthe remote central station 26.

Referring to FIG. 3, in another implementation, an apparatus 100 forremote inspection of portable tanks includes means for monitoring thecontents of oxygen tanks distributed throughout locations (e.g., rooms)associated with a healthcare facility such as a hospital, assistedliving facility, or a nursing home. However, in other implementations,the apparatus 100 includes means for monitoring the contents of oxygentanks, or other similar portable tanks, distributed throughout one ormore residential homes for assisting in healthcare. Typically, one ormore oxygen tanks is located throughout a facility for treatment of thecurrent occupants of the healthcare facility. In the example shown inFIG. 3, oxygen tanks are located in three hospital rooms 102, 104, 106.In hospital room 102, an oxygen tank 108 includes a gauge 110 formonitoring the contents of the oxygen tank, such as by measuring anddisplaying the pressure of contained oxygen. Similar to the gauge 50used with the fire extinguisher 12 shown in FIG. 2, the gauge 110 is incommunication with an electronic tether 112 connected to a dockingstation 114 that includes circuitry for transmitting a signal 118 to aremote central station 116 based on a signal 120 received from theelectronic tether. The signal 118 received at the remote central station116 communicates to hospital personnel information on the internalconditions of the oxygen tank 108 as measured by the gauge 110. Forexample, an alert is issued if the internal pressure the oxygen tank 108falls below a predetermined threshold so that replacement of the tank orreplenishment of the oxygen can be scheduled. Also similar to theapparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1, the signal 118 may also includeinformation representing one or more external conditions (e.g., removalof the oxygen tank, obstructed access to the oxygen tank, etc.)associated with the oxygen tank 108. For example, a sonar module,enclosed in the docking station 114, similar to the sonar moduledescribed in conjunction with FIG. 2, transmits and receives ultrasonicsignals through apertures 124 to detect objects obstructing access tothe oxygen tank 108, such as a bed 122.

In some embodiments, multiple oxygen tanks, or a combination of two ormore tanks containing different fluids may be present in a hospitalroom, as shown in hospital room 104. In this arrangement, oxygen tanks124, 126 are attached to respective gauges 132, 134 connected byrespective electronic tethers 128, 130 to communicate signals from therespective gauges. Circuitry included in a docking station 136 connectsto each electronic tether 128, 130 and combines (e.g., multiplexes)signals 138, 140, received from the respective oxygen tanks 124, 126,which may include information associated with the internal conditions ofeach tank. Additionally, the circuitry in the docking station 136combines information associated with external conditions (e.g.,obstruction detected by a sonar module included in docking station 136)of the tanks 126, 124 with the information from the respective gauges132, 134. Once the information is combined, a signal 142 is transmittedfrom the docking station 136 to the remote central station 116. In someembodiments the circuitry included in the docking station 136, orincluded in each gauge 132, 134, may also encode tank identificationinformation in the signal 142, thereby permitting the remote centralstation 116 to differentiate between the two tanks as to the source ofthe transmitted signal 142.

In other embodiments, wireless signal transmission and receptioncircuitry (e.g., an RF circuit, antenna, etc.) may be incorporated intoa docking station 144 for transmission of wireless signals between ahospital room and the remote central station 116. As shown in hospitalroom 106, a wireless signal 154 containing information associated withinternal and external conditions of an oxygen tank 146 is transmittedfrom the hospital room over a wireless link 156. In hospital room 106, adocking station 144 receives a signal 148 from an electronic tether 150connected to a gauge 152 attached to the oxygen tank 146. Wirelesssignal transmission circuitry in the docking station 144 transmits thesignal 154 over the wireless link 156 to a wireless interface 158 thatreceives the wireless signal and communicates the information containedin the signal to the remote central station 116. As with hospital rooms102 and 104, information received by the remote central station 116includes information associated with internal conditions (e.g., internalpressure) and external conditions (e.g., obstruction) of the oxygen tank146 to alert hospital personnel to internal and/or external conditionsof the oxygen tank along with information collected from the otheroxygen tanks 108, 124, 126 in each of the other hospital rooms 102, 104.

Each docking station 114, 136, 144 is connected by a hardwire connection160, 162 or a wireless link 156 so that information associated with eachoxygen tank is received by the remote central station 116. In someembodiments the hardwire connections 160, 162 are included in acommunication network (e.g., a local area network, LAN, or a wide areanetwork, WAN, etc.) to transmit the respective signals 118, 142 to theremote central station 116. With reference to hospital room 106, in someembodiments, the wireless interface 158 may receive the signal 154 overwireless link 156 and use additional wireless links (e.g., cellularlinks, satellite links, etc.) to transfer the internal and externalconditions of the oxygen tank 146 to the remote central station 116.Also, in some embodiments, a combination of wireless links and hardwireconnections can be used to transmit the signals from oxygen tanks 108,124, 126, 146 to the remote central station 116.

After the signals are received at the remote central station 116 fromthe hospital rooms 102, 104, 106, the information included in thereceived signals is sorted and displayed by a computer system 164 toalert hospital personnel as to the internal and external conditionsassociated with each oxygen tank 108, 124, 126, 146. The computer system164 also stores the received and sorted information on a storage device166 (e.g., a hard drive, CD-ROM, etc.) for retrieval at a future timefor further processing and reporting. In some embodiments the remotecentral station 116 may include wireless transmission and receptioncircuitry for transmitting and receiving wireless signals. For example,wireless circuitry (e.g., RF circuitry, antenna, etc.) included in theremote central station 116 can be used to transmit information overwireless links 168, 170 to wireless devices such as a laptop computer172, a personal digital assistant (PDA) 174, or other similar wirelessdevice (e.g., a cellular phone). Transmission of the information towireless devices provides hospital personnel not located at the remotecentral station 116 with information on the condition of the oxygentanks 108, 124, 126, 146 and an alert to any problems (e.g., tankpressure in hospital room 102 as fallen below a predetermined threshold)associated with one or more of the oxygen tanks By providing wirelessaccess to the information collected at the remote central station 116,the response time of hospital personnel to one or more of hospital roomscan be reduced.

Referring to FIG. 4, in another embodiment, an apparatus 200 for remoteinspection of portable tanks includes means for monitoring contents ofindustrial gas tanks 206, 208, 210, 212, 214, 216, 218 stored atindustrial gas storage sites 202, 204. Contents of each industrial tank206, 208, 210, 212, 214, 216, 218 are monitored with respective gauges220, 222, 224, 226, 228, 230, 232 such that each is capable ofinitiating a signal to a remote central station 234 to alert storagesite personnel to internal conditions (e.g., internal pressure)associated with each industrial tank. In industrial gas storage site202, three respective gas tanks 206, 208, 210 are stored incommunication with a docking station 236 by respective electronictethers 238, 240, 242 respectively connected to gauges 220, 222, 224 formonitoring the industrial gases in each respective tank. In thisparticular arrangement, docking station 236 is connected to all threeelectronic tethers 238, 240, 242, and includes circuitry for combining(e.g., multiplexing) signals from each of the three industrial gas tanks206, 208, 210 into a single signal 241 that is transmitted over ahardwire 243 to a remote central station 234. Similar to the dockingstation 114 shown in FIG. 3, external conditions associated with theindustrial gas tanks 206, 208, 210 are monitored from the dockingstation and a signal is initiated by a sonar module included in thedocking station 236 when an obstruction is detected. Similar to thedocking station 30 shown in FIG. 2, a signal is also initiated fromcircuitry included in the docking station 236 when the electricalconnection between the docking station and any of the electronic tethers238, 240, 242 is broken.

Industrial gas storage site 204 includes three docking stations 244,246, 248 that respectively receive signals from the respective gauges226, 228, 230, 232 monitoring the contents of the respective industrialgas tanks 212, 214, 216, 218. In this particular example, a dockingstation 244 connects to two gas tanks 214, 216 via respective electronictethers 250, 252 while another docking station 246 is dedicated toreceiving signals from gas tank 212 through electronic tether 254.Similarly, a third docking station 248 at storage site 204 is dedicatedto industrial gas tank 218. However, gauge 232 monitoring the contentsof industrial gas tank 218 and the associated docking station 248monitoring the gas tank external conditions each includes wirelesstransmission and reception circuitry to provide a wireless communicationlink 256 for transmitting internal conditions of the tank 218 from thegauge 232 to the docking station 248. Similar to the tether 32 (shown inFIG. 2) releasing from the docking station 30 (also shown in FIG. 2),the wireless link 256 also initiates a signal from the docking station248 if the link is interrupted due to moving of the gas tank 218 fromclose proximity to the docking station. The wireless transmission andreception circuitry in the docking station 248 also forms a wirelesslink 258 with a wireless interface 260, so that information encoded in awireless signal received by the docking station 248 from the gauge 232is transmitted to the wireless interface, which transfers theinformation to the remote central station 234. The docking station 248also uses the wireless link 258 for transmitting information associatedwith external conditions (e.g., obstruction) of the tank 218, asprovided by apertures 262 and a sonar module included in the dockingstation similar to the previous docking stations described inconjunction with FIG. 1-3.

Similar to the apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 3, the remote central station234 receives information from each docking station 236, 244, 246, 248and transfers the information to a computer system 264 for processing(e.g., sorting) and displaying. In this example, storage site personnelare provided with information on internal conditions (e.g., internaltank pressure) and external conditions (e.g., tank obstruction)associated with each tank 206, 208, 210, 216, 214, 216, 218 and alertedto any potential emergencies. The computer system 264 also storesinformation on a storage device 266 for retrieval at a future time e.g.,for further analysis. Also similar to the apparatus 100 (shown in FIG.3), the remote central station 234 includes wireless transmission andreception circuitry (e.g., RF circuits, antenna, etc.) for wirelesstransmission and reception of information to a personal digitalassistant 268, a laptop computer 270, or other wireless devices (e.g., acellular phone) so that storage site personnel (or other interestedparties) not located at the remote central station 234 can be informedof the internal and external conditions of each tank 206, 208, 210, 216,214, 216, 218 stored at each respective storage site 202, 204. Bytransmitting conditions related to each tank to storage site personnel,response times for out-of-standard conditions present at one or bothsites 202, 204 (e.g., internal pressure rising to dangerous level in thetank 206, an unscheduled re-locating of the tank 212, etc) may bereduced.

Referring to FIG. 5, in another implementation, an apparatus 300 forremote inspection of portable tanks includes means for monitoringcontents of gas tanks 302, 304 used in commercial facilities. In thisparticular embodiment a remote central station 306 receives signals 308,310 from two respective wall-mounted docking stations 312, 314 locatedin two respective commercial kitchens 316, 318. In kitchen 316 thewall-mounted docking station 312 receives signals through an electronictether 320 from a gauge 322 monitoring the internal conditions of thetank 302 supplying gas to kitchen equipment 324 through a connected gashose 326. Similar to the docking stations shown in FIG. 2-4, a sonarmodule in the docking station 312 detects access obstructions to thetank 302 through apertures 328. By monitoring the internal and externalconditions associated with tank 302, personnel located at the remotecentral station 306 can detect when the contents of the tank are nearlyexhausted and schedule tank replacement or contents replenishment.

Similar monitoring is performed in kitchen 318 for tank 304 providinggas to kitchen equipment 330. However, in this particular embodiment, agauge 332 and a docking station 314 each includes wireless transmissionand reception circuitry (e.g., RF circuit, antenna, etc) such that thegauge transmits one or more signals encoded with information relating tothe internal conditions of tank 304 over a wireless link 334 to thedocking station. Upon receiving the one or more signals from the gauge332, the docking station 314 transmits the signal 310 over a hardwire336 to the remote central station 306. However, in some embodiments thewireless transmission and reception circuitry included in the dockingstation 314 and the remote central station 306 allows the signal 310 tobe transmitted over a wireless link.

Similar to the apparatus shown in FIG. 3, the remote central station 306includes a computer system 338 that collects and stores, on a storagedevice 340, information transmitted to the remote central station andprocesses (e.g., sorts) the received information such that the remotecentral station can alert personnel to internal conditions (e.g.,internal pressure) and external conditions (e.g., access obstructed)associated with each tank 302, 304. Once alerted, the personnel can takeappropriate steps based on the internal (e.g., reduce internal pressurein the tank 302) and/or external (e.g., remove obstructions near thetank 304) conditions detected. Similar to the apparatus 100 shown inFIG. 3, the remote central station 306 includes wireless transmissionand reception circuitry (e.g., RF circuits, antenna, etc) fortransmitting wireless signals to a PDA 342 and a laptop computer 344, orother wireless devices (e.g., a cellular phone) so that personnel canquickly be alerted to the internal pressure of the tanks 302, 304,obstructions of the tanks, or other internal and external conditions byusing these wireless devices.

In some embodiments a flow gauge 346 monitors exhaust gases thatpropagate through a hood 350 of the kitchen equipment 324 of kitchen316. A hardwire cable 348 carries one or more signals from the flowgauge 346 to the docking station 312 that sends one or more signals tothe remote central station 306 for processing (e.g., sorting) anddisplay of information associated with the exhaust gases (e.g., exhaustflow rate, exhaust volume, etc). However, in some embodiments hardwirecable 348 may be replaced by a wireless link by including wirelesstransmission and reception circuitry (e.g., RF circuit, antenna, etc.)with the flow gauge 346 such that one or more wireless signals are sentto wireless transmission and reception circuitry in the docking station312. Similar to the information processed from the tanks 302, 304,information from the flow gauge 346 can be sent from the docking station312 to the remote central station 306 and then transmitted to wirelessdevices (e.g., PDA 342, laptop computer 344, etc.) so that personnel canbe quickly alerted to abnormal gas exhaust conditions.

In the particular embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the gauges 322, 332 andthe docking stations 312, 314 monitor internal and external conditionsof the respective tanks 302, 304 and the flow gauge 346 monitors exhaustgases that flow through the hood 350. However, in some embodiments oneor more gauges, docking stations, and/or flow gauges can be usedindividually or in combination to monitor internal and externalconditions of a chemical hood and portable chemical tanks that are usedin conjunction with the chemical hood. Chemical hoods are oftenimplemented for venting harmful gases used in fabrication processes,manufacturing processes, and other processes that use one or morechemicals stored in portable tanks By monitoring internal conditions(e.g., internal pressure) of the portable chemical tanks used with thechemical hoods, information collected can be used to alert personnelwhen internal pressure of a particular chemical tank is low and the tankshould be scheduled for replacement. Also, a sonar module in a dockingstation associated with monitoring of a portable chemical tank candetect if an object is obstructing access to the tank and to quicklyalert personnel to this potentially dangerous situation. A flow gaugemounted onto the chemical hood, similar to flow gauge 346 mounted to thehood 350 (shown in FIG. 5), additionally allows monitoring of e.g., theflow rate, volume, and other properties of the exhaust gases.Information collected by the flow gauge and transmitted to a remotecentral station, can also be stored for future analysis such as forevaluating flow changes over time that may have been caused e.g., by anobstruction in the chemical hood or some other flow reduction sourcelike a malfunctioning exhaust fan.

In this embodiment, a non-contact ultrasonic sensor (sonar module) isemployed for detecting the presence of an obstruction. Alternatively, anon-contact optical sensor may be employed. Both have sensitivity overwide ranges of distances (e.g., about 6 inches to about 10 feet, orother ranges as may be dictated, e.g., by environmental conditions). Asan obstruction may move slowly, or may be relatively stationary, it maynot be necessary to have the sensor active at all times; periodicsampling, e.g., once per hour, may be sufficient. On the other hand, thesonar module in the docking station 312 may also be utilized as aproximity or motion sensor, e.g., in a security system, e.g., to issue asignal to the remote central station 306 and/or to sound an alarm whenmovement is detected in the vicinity of the portable tank 302 whilekitchen 316 is not operating, e.g., after business hours or duringweekends or vacations. In this case, continuous operation may bedictated, at least during periods when the security system is active.Other features and characteristics may be optimally employed, asdesired, including: wide angle and narrow angle sensitivity, digitaloutput (“Is there an obstruction or not?”), and/or analog output (e.g.,“How large an obstruction?” and “How far away from the dockingstation?”).

Gauge 322 may optionally include an electro luminescent light panel thatgenerates a visual signal to passersby, warning of the low-pressurecondition of the portable tank 302. In some embodiments, the gauge 322may include an electronic circuit that causes intermittent illuminationof the light panel, thereby to better attract the attention ofpassersby.

Additionally, the gauge 322 may include an electronic circuit and anaudio signaling device for emitting, e.g., a beeping sound, instead ofor in addition to the visual signal. The audio signal device may betriggered when internal pressure of the portable tank 302 drops to orbelow a predetermined level. The audio signal may consist of a recordedinformation message, e.g., instructions to replace the tank or toreplenish the tank contents. The gauge 322 may also include a lightsensor, e.g., of ambient light conditions, to actuate illumination ofthe light panel in low or no light conditions, e.g., to signal thelocation of the portable tank 302, at night or upon loss of power toexternal lighting. The gauge 322 may also include a sensor adapted tosense other local conditions, e.g., smoke or fire, to actuateillumination of the light panel and/or audio signal device when smoke orother indications of a fire are sensed, e.g., to signal the location ofthe tank, when visibility is low.

The gauge 322 may also include electronic circuitry to encode anidentification specific to the associated tank 302 for receiving anddispatching signals or messages, e.g., of the internal condition of thetank, via the electronics and communications circuitry included in thedocking station 312, and/or an internal antenna, identifiable asrelating to that tank, to the remote central station 306 and/or to otherlocations. The docking station 312 may contain a circuit boardprogrammed with the protocols for certain alarms or signals relating topredetermined internal and external conditions, and may include abattery for primary or auxiliary power.

In other embodiments, two or more sonar modules may be employed toprovide additional beam coverage. Also, various technologies may beimplemented to communicate by wireless signal among the gauge 320 and/orthe docking station 312 and/or the remote central station 306. Radiofrequency (RF) signaling, infrared (IR) signaling, optical signaling, orother similar technologies may be employed to provide communicationlinks. RF signaling, IR signaling, optical signaling, or other similarsignaling technologies may also be implemented individually or in anysuitable combination for communicating by wireless signal among thegauge 322, the docking station 312, and the remote central station 306.

In other embodiments, wireless signaling technology may incorporatetelecommunication schemes (e.g., Bluetooth) to provide point-to-point ormulti-point communication connections among the tanks 302, 304 and/orthe docking stations 312, 314 and/or the remote central station 306.These telecommunication schemes may be achieved, for example, with localwireless technology, cellular technology, and/or satellite technology.The wireless signaling technology may further incorporate spreadspectrum techniques (e.g., frequency hopping) to allow the extinguishersto communicate in areas containing electromagnetic interference. Thewireless signaling may also incorporate identification encoding alongwith encryption/decryption techniques and verification techniques toprovide secure data transfers among the devices.

In other embodiments, a Global Positioning System (GPS) may be locatedon the tank 302 and/or the gauge 322 and/or the docking station 312and/or the remote central station 306. The GPS may determine, forexample, the geographic location of each respective tank and providelocation coordinates, via the wireless signaling technology, to theother tanks and/or the remote central stations. Thus, the GPS system mayprovide the location of the tanks and allow, for example, movementtracking of the tanks

In still other embodiments, various sensing techniques, besides thesonar modules, may sense objects obstructing access to the tank 302.Similar to sonar, obstructing objects may be detected by passive oractive acoustic sensors. In other examples, obstructions may be sensedwith electromagnetic sensing techniques (e.g., radar, magnetic fieldsensors), infrared (IR) sensing techniques (e.g., heat sensors, IRsensors), visual sensing techniques (e.g., photo-electric sensors),and/or laser sensing techniques (e.g., LIDAR sensors). Thesetechnologies may, for example, be utilized individually or in concert tosense obstructions that block access to the tank 302.

Also, the signaling may use networking techniques to provideone-directional and/or multi-directional communications among thedevices. In one example, signals may be networked asynchronously, suchas in an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM). The signals may also benetworked synchronously, such as, for example, in a synchronous opticalnetwork (SONET). In still another example, the signals may betransmitted over a landline in an integrated services digital network(ISDN), as well as over other similar media, for example, in a broadbandISDN (BISDN).

A remote inspection apparatus may also be employed for remote inspectionof multiple portable tanks at one or a system of locations.Communication, including wireless communication, or inspection or otherinformation, between the portable tank and the central station, may becarried on directly, or indirectly, e.g. via signal or relay devices,including at the docking station in communication with the gaugeattached to the portable tank.

Referring to FIG. 6, in another implementation, an apparatus 400provides for remote inspection of fluid flow in a manufacturing plant402 or other similar facility. In this particular embodiment a fluidsuch as hydraulic fluid, air, water, oxygen, fuel oil, etc. flowsthrough a pipeline 404 that extends throughout the manufacturing plant402 for use in manufacturing or other commercial or private enterprises.However, in other embodiments, for example in conjunction with FIG. 3,the pipeline 404 may be extended into one or more of the hospital rooms102, 104, 106 to provide an oxygen source and replace the need for therespective oxygen tanks 110, 124, 126, 146.

Returning to FIG. 6, a compressor 406 is connected to a fluid reservoir408 for pressuring contained fluid and the pipeline 404 serves as ameans to deliver the pressurized fluid to one or more sites within themanufacturing plant 402. As the pipeline 404 extends throughout themanufacturing plant 402 a number of filter units 410, 412, 414, 416 areconnected to the pipeline for filtering the pressurized fluid andmonitoring the pressure of the fluid carried by the pipeline. Each ofthe filter units 410, 412, 414, 416 includes a pair of filters and arespective gauge 418, 420, 422, 424 that is similar to the gauges 110,132, 134, 152 shown in FIG. 3. Also similar to FIG. 3, each of thegauges 418, 420, 422, 424 is in communication with a respectivewall-mounted docking station 426, 428, 430, 432 by either an electronictether or a wireless link. Each of the wall-mounted docking stations426, 428, 430, 432 receives signals initiated from the respective gauge418, 420, 422, 424 that contains information such as the pipelinepressure detected by the gauge.

Also, in this particular embodiment a flow meter 434 is connected to thepipeline 404 to measure the flow of fluid through a particular portionof the pipeline. Similar to the gauges 418, 420 included in the filterunits 410, 412, the flow meter 434 includes wireless signal transmissionand reception circuitry (e.g., an RF circuit, antenna, etc.) to form awireless link with the docking station 430. Also in some embodiments,similar to the docking stations 114, 136, 144 shown FIG. 3, circuitryincluded in the docking stations combines the information provided bythe respective gauge with external conditions (e.g., an obstructiondetected by a sonar module included in the docking stations) monitoredat the docking stations. Once combined, signals are transmitted from thedocking stations 426, 428, 430, 432 to a remote central station 436. Insome embodiments, each docking station 426, 428, 430, 432, gauge 418,420, 422, 424, or flow meter 434 individually or in combination includescircuitry that encodes identification information in the respectivesignal to permit the remote central station 436 to differentiate amongthe filter units 418, 420, 422, 424 or the flow meter 434 as the sourceof the transmitted signal. Similar to the docking station 136 shown inFIG. 3, the docking station 432 includes circuitry and connections forpermitting two of the gauges 422, 424 to each connect to the dockingstation and for combining (e.g., multiplexing) signals initiated fromeach of the two gauges prior to transmitting a signal to the remotecentral station 436. Respective hardwires 438, 440, 442 are used fortransmitting respective signals initiated at the docking stations 428,430, 432 to the central remote station 436. However, the docking station426 includes wireless signal transmission and reception circuitry (e.g.,an RF circuit, antenna, etc.) for initiating wireless signaltransmission to a wireless interface 444 connected to the remote centralstation 436.

Similar to the apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 3, the remote central station436 includes a computer system 446 that collects and stores, on astorage device 448, information transmitted to the remote centralstation and processes (e.g., sorts) the received information such thatthe remote central station can alert personnel to internal conditions(e.g., pressure, flow rate, etc) of the pipeline 404 and externalconditions (e.g., access obstructed) associated with one or more of thefilter units 410, 412, 414, 416 and the flow meter 434. Once alerted,the personnel can take appropriate steps based on the internal (e.g.,inspect the pipeline 404 for a pressure drop) and/or external (e.g.,remove obstructions near an obstructed filter unit) conditions detected.Also, similar to the apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 3, the remote centralstation 436 includes wireless transmission and reception circuitry(e.g., RF circuits, antenna, etc.) for initiating wireless signaltransmissions to a PDA 450 and/or a laptop computer 452, or otherwireless devices (e.g., a cellular phone) so that personnel can quicklybe alerted to the pressure and flow rate along the pipeline 404,obstructions of the filter units 410, 412, 414, 416 or flow meter 434,or other internal and external conditions by using these wirelessdevices.

Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the followingclaims.

1. Apparatus for remote inspection of a portable tank located in aninstalled position and adapted to store oxygen, the apparatuscomprising: a first detector in communication with the oxygen formeasurement of a level of oxygen stored in the portable tank; a seconddetector configured to detect lack of presence of the portable tank fromits installed position; and an electronic circuit in communicationbetween the first and second detectors and a central station locatedremotely from the portable tank, the electronic circuit configured toissue a signal to the central station that includes information aboutthe level of oxygen stored in the portable tank or presence of theportable tank in its installed position.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1wherein the electronic circuit is adapted to issue a wireless signal tothe central station.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electroniccircuit is configured to issue a signal to the central station upondetection of a lack of presence of the portable tank from its installedposition.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electronic circuit isconfigured to continuously issue a signal to a display device thatincludes information about the level of oxygen.
 5. The apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein the electronic circuit is configured to periodicallyissue a signal to a display device that includes information about thelevel of oxygen.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electroniccircuit is configured to issue a signal to a display device upondetection of an oxygen level at or below a predetermined threshold. 7.The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a third detector configuredto detect presence of an obstruction restricting access to the portabletank.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the electronic circuit isconfigured to issue a signal that includes information about thepresence of an obstruction restricting access to the portable tank. 9.The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the electronic circuit is configured toissue the signal that includes information about the presence of anobstruction restricting access to the portable tank upon detection of anobstruction by the third detector.
 10. Apparatus for remote inspectionof a pressurized oxygen container comprising: a detector incommunication with the oxygen tank for measure of a predeterminedinternal condition of the tank; an electronic circuit in communicationbetween the detector and a remote central station for issue of awireless signal to the remote central station, the wireless signalincluding information about the predetermined internal condition; and adocking station, wherein the detector is electrically connected to thedocking station and the electronic circuit is at least partiallycontained within the docking station.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10wherein the electronic circuit is adapted to issue a wireless signalupon detection of the predetermined internal condition.
 12. Theapparatus of claim 10 wherein the predetermined internal conditioncomprises an out of range pressure condition of the oxygen.
 13. Theapparatus of claim 10 wherein the electronic circuit is configured toissue a signal upon detection that the pressure of the oxygen is at orbelow a predetermined level.
 14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein thedetector comprises a fluid pressure gauge in communication with theoxygen for measure and display of a pressure condition of the oxygen.15. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising: a second detector fordetection of a predetermined external condition.
 16. The apparatus ofclaim 15 wherein the second detector comprises an electronic tether inelectrical communication with the electronic circuit.
 17. The apparatusof claim 16 wherein the oxygen container is located in an installedposition and the predetermined external condition comprises the lack ofpresence of the oxygen container in its installed position.
 18. Theapparatus of claim 17 wherein the electronic circuit is adapted to issuea signal upon detection of the lack of presence of the oxygen containerin its installed position.
 19. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein thesecond detector comprises a sonic sensor for detecting presence of anobstruction to or viewing of the oxygen container.
 20. The apparatus ofclaim 15 further comprising: a third detector for detection of a secondpredetermined external condition.
 21. The apparatus of claim 20 whereinthe second detector comprises an electronic tether for detecting thelack of presence of the oxygen container in an installed position andthe third detector comprises a sonic sensor for detecting presence of anobstruction to or viewing of the oxygen container.